A Memoir as a Historical Source in Understanding Genocide

Analyze the advantage or disadvantages of the memoir as a historical source in understanding genocide and political violence.

Break apart the memoir as a historical source into its components:

• Who wrote it?
• What does it say?
• What is the perspective?
• What does it tell us about racism?
• What issues do memoirs pose as historical sources?
• Why are these memoirists writing down their memories?
• How do they shape their narrative to convey a particular message?
• Do they have an agenda?
• What do these books offer that a work of historical scholarship couldn’t?